The Bucks' Problem

And judging by this game alone, that defensive setup had worked quite well.

Lillard had opened the first quarter by hitting three of his five three-pointers, dealing a heavy blow to the Celtics' defense. But once the second quarter began, his touch quickly faded, and Cousin inevitably found himself struggling.

By contrast, Middleton, who got more chances to shoot because Lillard's drives were being contained, quietly overtook him on the scoreboard, scoring 15 points over the next two quarters and helping the Bucks steady themselves.

As for Giannis, he was simply delivering a steady performance.

He was the Bucks' most reliable foundation, but he couldn't raise the team's ceiling.

Fortunately, although their offense had been somewhat constrained, the Bucks' defense remained rock solid.

So when the third quarter ended, the score stood at 88–84, with the Celtics leading by four.

Then, as the game entered the Fourth Quarter, the situation shifted further.

Jayson Tatum's sudden hot streak from beyond the arc became a major force in changing the course of the game.

At the start of the Fourth Quarter, Giannis had begun to take over, powering through for two consecutive baskets in the paint before blocking Robert Williams on the defensive end.

The Bucks looked ready to tie the score and seize momentum. But when play returned to the other end, Tatum burst into action, sinking three consecutive three-pointers. He went three-for-three, scored nine straight points, and opened the gap again.

Then Paul took control of the game, helping the Celtics keep a firm grip on the tempo and patiently grind it out against the Bucks in the half court.

On top of that, Tutu's touch stayed hot over the next few possessions. He went three-for-five and added another seven points.

It wasn't a huge number of points, but it